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This is a tale of a legendary rifle from Texas known as Ol' Dirty. The rifle is owned by FAL Files and TX-FNFAL member, James. This is not a story for the faint of heart or for AR-15 owners so read at your own risk.

A year or so ago, James decided that he would conduct a duration experiment just to see how long a standard post ban FAL rifle could go without a cleaning of any kind. The rifle started life as a nice StG 58 kit built on an Imbel receiver with a DSA fake long Belgian flash hider and a spray can camo finish. Since I have known James, the rifle has always been very reliable and accurate and really one of his favorite firearms.

The experiment started as a challange to see if a FAL could withstand continued abuse and filthiness that a less robust rifle could only dream of. Ol' Dirty has had over 16,000 rounds of various surplus ammo fired through it without a cleaning. The chamber area has an incredibly nasty build-up of carbon (it actually now has an almost solid carbon feed ramp). The gas plug is pretty much frozen up from carbon fouling and I don't think the piston has been seen for some time now. The rifle still cycles perfectly and the accuracy is as good as ever. I have shot my rifles against this rifle many times and it is tough if not impossible to beat. Accurate shot placement out to 400 and 500 yards is common for James and Ol' Dirty.

It just goes to prove what the FAL can accomplish under the most extremely filthy conditions.

Update: I have been informed that this was never intended to be an experiment but that James just doesn't like to clean his rifles.

I have to agree with Sledge, that is the nattist rifle I have ever seen. I didn't even want to touch it. I even saw Jen trying to pull the gas plug, all she go was dirty hands, and the plug was not going anywhere.

Yep, it was not meant to be an experiment but it sure has turned in to one.
I can vouch for the accuracy and reliability of this filthy masterpiece. When James drags out 'Ol Dirty what is being shot at will be hit, at very long ranges.
Very interesting to say the least. And a true testament to the FAL rifle that we all love.

I've got one that I built ona G1 kit and an Imbel rec. 900 rounds, no lube, no clean. It was doing so well, I ended up cleaning it after that as a Christmas present. (I felt bad, it's kinda like not feeding your favorite dog...)

Tex is right, it didn't start out as an experiment but that's what it is now. The gun originally functioned fine but the more I shot it the better it seemed to get, so I decided to let it ride. The only maintenance that is done is to put some oil on the rails and the bolt.

The only problem that has occured was about 500 rds ago and I think that the cold temperature had something to do with it. It was in the high 20s when I had a failure to eject. It got the case out of the chamber but could not eject it before the bolt caught it coming back to reload. After inspection I determined probable cause was all the powder and oil had kind of frozen up. The bolt would slide but not too freely. I put some more oil on it got back to shooting. After that it's been working fine.

I'll probably shoot it a while longer and if nothing stops it from working I'll clean it since it's a little dirty.

Randy is also right, I don't like to clean. I do like to break it open and show it to anyone with an AR type gun and ask them if their's would function this dirty.

James pulled her out and opened her up, she really does have carbon fouling everywhere. She is as dirty as any weapon I have ever seen. Then that afternoon, we took'er to the range, he started out shooting at the 200yard gong, after a couple spotter shots he went from the 15" gong to the 10" gong (with a fair wind) and he probably punched a hole through the center (it was no contest). He made it look easy, so we all started shooting the gongs, but Randy (Sledgehammer) and James just plain out shot us south Tx FALers (we did OK) but they have bragging rights (and James was doing almost perfect) with ol'dirty. It never skipped a beat.

Then he started shooting dirt clods at 300 yards (in fair winds), and I think he'd have the trophy. We all shot honerable, but if anyone thinks FAL rifles are not viable MBRs, they could take notes. And, after near 3000 rounds. I'm curious when accuracy or reliability will suffer. She sure ain't falling off yet.

Them North Texas boys sure can shoot, we will soon try again, but I'll try with a slightly cleaner FAL. Jjames does not want glass used in his match. It will be hard, but I'll gladly try.

Oh yeah, then Jen brought out the tracers, what a hoot. And the Portuguese ammo and steel plate near dark, was a sight to see.

Did I say, this was the most fun I have had in quite a while? It was.

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Originally posted by James ... The only maintenance that is done is to put some oil on the rails and the bolt.

The only problem that has occured was about 500 rds ago and I think that the cold temperature had something to do with it. It was in the high 20s when I had a failure to eject. ...
James

As an Ordnance person (retired), I'm glad to see that you gave it some oil. For lubrication and corrosion protection. And you're right about the cold having something to do with the failure to eject. Oil congeals (gets thick and sluggish) with cold temeratures. And mixed with carbon, the oil was probably like thick mud. IIRC, CLP has fairly good low temperature qualities. Try some of the liquid CLP.

BTW, CLP is a pretty good powder fouling solvent, but on Ol' Dirty, yikes, it's scary.

Originally posted by sledgehammer This is a tale of a legendary rifle from Texas known as 'Ol Dirty. The rifle is owned by FAL Files and TX-FNFAL member, James. This is not a story for the faint of heart or for AR-15 owners so read at your own risk.

Update: I have been informed that this was never intended to be an experiment but that James just doesn't like to clean his rifles.

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"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence."

Originally posted by gary.jeter Kudos to the cameraman for the mid-air image!

Well, thank you, oh Dr. of Demil, uh, Dremil.

This was not only a lot of fun to do, but it was an on going test for 'Ol Dirty this weekend. Dunk her in a mud puddle and then shoot the crap out of it. Not sure how many rounds James put through it this time, it's well over 3000 rds now.
The bore was checked for no obstruction and then- fire away.
I'd hate to even see the gas piston-gas tube. I'm sure it has a bit of rust in it, after two dunkings and no cleanings in over a year I think, but obviously it hasn't slowed 'Ol Dirty down one bit. All he will do is continue to give it a little oil in the right places.

In case any of you wonder what Dirty is built from I'll spill the beans, an early Belgian StG kit.

I almost had a heartattack when he got it close to one of mine as it was still dripping and stinks pretty bad.

What a damn fine rifle, one that you can certainly count on in the worst conditions and then KNOW it will get the job done. Thumbs up to Dirty, and FALs in general.

I can just hear it now, "The Legend of Ol' Dirty" on the local country music station...
James, yougonna bring it to the shoot on May 10? I have to see this one in person so I can tell my grandkids that I saw and held the LEGEND.

OK OK I'm finally here! I know everyone wants more pictures but I don't think it looks any different now with 8000 rounds through it then it did when I took the original pictures. I will get some pictures and post them this weekend.

As far as performance goes I have not had any malfunctions of any kind. I shot 300 rounds at the end of August then the next time I took it out was the second weekend of December where I shot 180 more rounds. When I took it out in December I didn't put any lubrication on it at all and it worked great. I was surprised since the bolt doesn't slide very easily. I sure I will need to put some oil on it the next time it goes out.

I'm not going to clean Ol' Dirty anytime soon and I don't think he's going to jam up because of being too dirty. He can only get so dirty and then it seems to blow the excess crud out of the way. The piston spring has been broken for some time now but that hasn't effected the function.